Two executives to leave McDonald's

Karen King and Erik Hess plan to leave McDonald's Corp. by the end of the year.

OAK BROOK, ILL. — Two longtime executives with McDonald’s Corp. are retiring by year’s end, the company said.

Karen King, executive vice-president and chief field officer, oversees McDonald’s four U.S. zones, which include 14,000 restaurants that generate 40% of the quick-service chain’s sales. She also is responsible for franchising and franchising relations. Ms. King was appointed to her current role in 2015 after serving as McDonald’s chief people officer.

Erik Hess, senior vice-president, Customer Experience, is responsible for research and consumer insights, menu and brand strategy. He joined the company in 1991.

“While Karen and Erik will be greatly missed, their retirements provide an opportunity to change our organizational structure to further enhance our connectivity with our owner-operators and our customers,” the company said. “U.S. zone presidents Debbie Roberts and Charlie Strong, and Kristy Cunningham, U.S. senior vice-president, Strategy and Insights, and Lance Richards, U.S. vice-president, Menu Strategy, will report directly to Chris Kempczinski, who is transitioning to the role of McDonald’s USA president on Jan. 1, 2017.”

Charlie Robeson will take on expanded responsibilities as chief restaurant officer of the United States.

Additionally, Charlie Robeson will take on expanded responsibilities as chief restaurant officer of the United States. In this expanded role, Mr. Robeson will oversee a variety of functions, including operations of company-owned restaurants, franchising, development and restaurant modernization.

Ms. King and Mr. Hess join a list of top executives to retire from the company this year. Also retiring at the end of the year is Mike Andres, president of McDonald’s USA and a 30-year veteran of the company, along with Pat Harris, vice-president and global chief diversity officer and a 40-year veteran of McDonald’s.

In September, chief administration officer Pete Bensen retired after 20 years with McDonald’s.

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